Surgical retractor



P 22, 1942- H. M. KIRSCHBAUM 2,296,793

- I SURGICAL IRETRACTOR Filed Feb. 2, 1942 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SURGICAL RETRACTOR Harry M. Kirschbaum, Detroit, Mich. Application February 2", 1942, Serial No. 429,316

2 Claims.

The invention relates to surgical retractors such as are used in obstetrical and other surgical operations.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a construction which illuminates the cavity at the same time that it is performing its work. To this end, the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the instrument Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the lamp bulb and its socket.

In general form the instrument is provided with a handle A having a shank B at its inner end rounding into a portion extending at substantially right angles to the handle. Detachably secured to this shank is a blade C which longitudinally is of arcuate form and in cross section is concave-convex. This permits the use of the blade as a hook for retracting the tissues, to provide entrance to the cavity.

To facilitate the use of this instrument, I have devised a construction in which light is radiated from the inner end of the blade so as to illuminate the cavity. This is accomplished by forming a hollow construction in which an illuminating bulb is located in the blade portion, and the batteries for supplying the current, in the handle portion. The bulb is preferably located at a point where substantially direct rays therefrom can pass to the end of the blade and out through a transparent closure therefor. This will produce a fairly high degree of illumination with a low-powered light bulb and is therefore preferable to constructions in which the light is transmitted through Lucite or a similar medium, with great loss in intensity. Also, the placing of the batteries which generate the current within the hollow handle forms a self-contained construction, avoiding the use of a conductor cord from an external source of current.

More in detail, the handle A may be formed integral with the shank B, preferably by casting. The handle is of sufficient length to accommodate a series of dry battery cells D, D. These, at the outer end, are in electrical connection with a contact E arranged centrally within an insulator closure cap F for the hollow handle. A second contact G passes through the insulator cap, and a switch member H outside the cap is adapted to connect or disconect the contacts.

The contact G is connected with an insulated conductor I extending through the hollow casing and shank B into connection with one of the terminals of the illuminating bulb J. The other terminal of the bulb isconnected to a resilient coil wire member K, which latter at its opposite end is anchored in the shank B and forms a grounded electrical connection. The coil K also permits the insertion of the bulb J within the hollow blade and the pushing of this bulb around the curve. This will locate the bulb so that direct radiation can pass therefrom to the end of the blade. A transparent closure L, preferably of Pyrex glass or other heat-resisting transparent material, seals the end of the blade so as to prevent access of moisture to the interior.

The detachable connection between the blade C and shank B may be of any suitable construction, but as shown consists in a threaded nipple M on the end of the shank engaging a threaded socket N on the blade.

The construction as described is capable of being sterilized by immersion in boiling water without injury thereto.

The surgeon, in using the instrument, can at any time operate the switch H to energize the bulb and to thereby illuminate the cavity.

One important feature of my invention is that the electrical illuminating means for the instrument is self-contained, requiring no external electrical connections. This is important, both for the purpose of facilitating sterilization and for not hampering the use of the instrument.

What I claim as my invention is:'

l. A surgical retractor comprising a hollow handle portion, a hollow curved blade portion detachably connected to said handle portion to extend laterally and outwardly therefrom, a transparent closure for the end of said hollow blade portion, an electric bulb adapted for insertion within said hollow blade portion, a flexible mounting for said bulb projecting outward from said handle portion and adapted to permit the passage of said bulb around a curved portion within said hollow blade into a position for substantially direct radiation out through said transparent end closure, 2. battery Within said hollow handle portion, and electrical connections between said battery and bulb including a switch operable from outside said handle.

2. A surgical retractor comprising a hollow handle portion having a hollow shank extending therefrom with a laterally extending bend therein, a hollow curved blade portion detachably connected to the end of said shank, a transparent closure for the end of said blade, an electric bulb tery, an insulator cap for the end of said hollow handle, and an electric switch mounted on said insulator cap to be operable from outside thereof, said switch controlling electrical connections be- 5 tween said battery and bulb.

HARRY M. KIRSCI-ICBAUM. 

